The family of talented cook, Hassan Kadam, has a life filled with both culinary delights and profound loss. Drifting through Europe after fleeing political violence in India the Kadams arrive in France.

Once there, a chance encoutner with Marguerite, young chef, inspires Papa Kadam to set up a Indian restaurant. Unfortunately, this puts the Kadams in direct competition with the snobbish Madame Mallory's acclaimed haute cuisine establishment across the street where Marguerite also works as a sous-chef.

The resulting rivalry eventually escalates in personal intensity until it goes too far.